Israel launched more strikes on southern Lebanon on Tuesday despite a ceasefire deal that was supposed to take effect last Wednesday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war with Hezbollah is not over.
Israeli strikes included an attack on the town of Shebaa, which killed a shepherd. According to The Associated Press, the death brought the total number of people killed by Israel in Lebanon since last Wednesday to 15.
The heaviest day of Israeli bombing took place on Monday after Hezbollah fired back for the first time, launching two rockets toward Israeli-occupied territory in a “warning” shot in response to Israeli violations. A UNIFIL source told CNN on Monday that Israel violated the ceasefire around 100 times at that point, and the US and France have also reportedly conveyed that they believe Israel was violating the truce.
Israel has claimed it’s responding to Hezbollah violating the ceasefire, pointing to the group’s presence in activity in southern Lebanon. But the ceasefire deal gave Hezbollah 60 days to withdraw its fighters and heavy weapons north of the Litani River. During that time, Israel is supposed to withdraw its forces from Lebanon, and the Lebanese Army is deploying troops to enforce the truce.
“We are currently in a ceasefire, I note, a ceasefire, not the end of the war,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday. “We have a clear goal to return the residents, to rehabilitate the north. We are enforcing this ceasefire with an iron fist, acting against any violation, minor or serious.”
The US State Department justified Israel’s ceasefire violations by saying Israel has the right to “defend itself.” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel was asked on Tuesday if the same right applies to Lebanon and refused to answer. The US gave assurances to Israel that it could strike Lebanon if it deemed the ceasefire deal was being violated.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz threatened on Tuesday that if the war escalates, Israel will push deeper into Lebanese territory and target the Lebanese government. “If we return to war, we will act with strength, go deeper,” he said. “there will no longer be any exemptions for the State of Lebanon. If until now we separated the State of Lebanon from Hezbollah – and the entirety of Beirut from Dahiyeh, which took very hard hits – this will no longer be the case.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Tuesday that if the recently implemented ceasefire with Hezbollah collapses, the state of Lebanon will no longer be exempt from blame for attacks, and Israel’s military responses will not distinguish between the terror group and the country where it is based.
It is about time to hold Lebanon accountable Hezbollah actions.
Is the pay by the hour or by the post?
Lebanon has the right to "self-defense" while Israel DOESN'T! That's right. Look it up! How can there EVER be a REAL truce when Israel is one of the parties involved? "By deception thou shalt wage wars", the Mossad motto speaks volumes about a war criminal run amuck! Israel could have nipped October 7 in the bud, but they let it happen and killed MOST if not ALL of those "1200" Israelis on O7 to justify their subsequent rampage of death and destruction! There are so many "official narratives" that are outright lies and the world suffers because of it!
U.S. echoes France's ceasefire violation warning to Israel, calls for restraint 'from all sides'
"U.S. echoes France's ceasefire violation warning to Israel, calls for restraint 'from all sides'
U.S. presidential envoy Amos Hochstein, who played a pivotal role in brokering the deal, conveyed a message to officials in Jerusalem that they are not abiding by the truce terms, Ynet reported on Monday. Paris, a member of the Washington-led monitoring mechanism overseeing the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement, had accused Jerusalem of committing 52 ceasefire violations, according to Hebrew media reports on Sunday that cited French diplomatic sources."
https://nationalpost.com/news/world/u-s-france-israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-violation-warning
Rush Limbaugh use to comment on people names, like your last name Burns, sounds like a fitting name.
So Netanyahu agrees with me – I said repeatedly this "ceasefire" was BS and the war isn't even remotely over. It's barely started, even after over a year.
This was will not be over for probably a decade, like Afghanistan.
Of course, only those anointed by the Yankee Empire have the right to self defense. But Patel is too cowardly to say so.
”Ashes are burning brightly, down below and above… Everyone must remember. All that’s needed is love…”
Renaissance.
Ceasefire: It's like when they say "shalom"—I don't think they know what it means.
Rules for thee but not for me is flagrant disgusting bullshit wrapped in soiled flags and disgraced muskets…
Never gonna happen…! Because Hezbollah knows they would be targeted once they show up on surface with their fighters and equipment…!
Keep dreaming …!
Eye for an eye…! Hezbollah rockets and missiles would also strike deeper into Israel…!
The Bible calls for "an eye for an eye"- not forty eyes for an eye.
Much less the eyes of innocent, defenseless children.
I dunno. The Old Testament might well teach dual morality. So, eye for an eye within the group, but anything for an eye outside the group.
Wrong, US. Israel has the right to report alleged violations to an international commission, who will refer them to the Lebanese government to be corrected. Is that not actually the agreed upon process..??!
Netanyahoo basically has a blank check from the US congress to do whatever he wants at this point so why would he be interested in peace? Particularly since peace would probably mean his being thrown out of office.
"An Israeli strike on Tuesday killed a shepherd".
Just in time for the Christmas season.